Whole genome methylation profiles as independent markers of survival in stage IIIC melanoma patients

Table 2 Characteristics of the 45 AJCC stage IIIC melanoma patients

Variable	n. patients	%
Age, years
Median	52
Range	29-83
Gender
Male	28	62.2
Female	17	37.8
Localization of primary tumor
extremities	16	35.6
trunk	24	53.3
head & neck	2	4.4
NA¹	3	6.7
Breslow thickness of primary tumor
≤2.0 mm	13	28.9
>2.0 mm	25	55.6
NA	7	15.6
Clark level of primary tumor
1-3	13	28.9
4-5	26	57.8
NA	6	13.3
Ulceration of primary tumor
No	10	22.2
Yes	33	73.3
NA	2	4.4
N. lymph nodes involved
1	9	20
>1	35	77.8
NA	1	2.2
LDH²
Low³	31	68.9
High	11	24.4
NA	3	6.7
BRAF^V600E
mutated	25	55.6
wild-type	15	33.3
NA	5	11.1
LINE-1 ⁴
hypomethylated	22	49
hypermethylated	23	51

¹ NA, not available.
² LDH, lactate dehydrogenase.
³ low LDH is established as LDH values ≤ 0.8 times the upper limit of normal; high LDH is defined as LDH values > 0.8 times the upper limit of normal.
⁴ extent of methylation of LINE-1 was evaluated by pyrosequencing and defined as hypomethylated or hypermethylated depending on the methylation level being < or ≥ the median of the population, respectively.

ISSN: 1479-5876